New Living Translation
Matthew 10:31
31So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.
Matthew 10:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
- New International Version (NIV)So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Context of Matthew 10:31
29What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. 32“Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
Read all of Matthew 10Matthew 10:31 word by word
μὴ οὖν φοβεῖσθε· πολλῶν στρουθίων διαφέρετε ὑμεῖς.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Matthew 10:31
- Matthew 6:26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?
- Matthew 12:11And he answered, “If you had a sheep that fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you work to pull it out? Of course you would.
- Psalms 8:5Yet you made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.
- Luke 12:24Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds!
- 1 Corinthians 9:9For the law of Moses says, “You must not muzzle an ox to keep it from eating as it treads out the grain.” Was God thinking only about oxen when he said this?
Commentaries on Matthew 10:31
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 31Fear ye not - ye are of more value - None can estimate the value of a soul, for which Christ has given his blood and life! Have confidence in his goodness; for he who so dearly purchased thee will miraculously preserve and save thee. Did the poet intend to contradict Christ when he said: - "He sees with equal eye, as God of all, A Hero perish, or a Sparrow fall?" How cold and meagre is this shallow deistical saying! But could the poet mean, that a sparrow…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 29-31Verses 29-31 Are not two sparrows - He encourages them not to fear by two striking considerations: first, that God takes care of sparrows, the smallest and least valuable of birds; and, secondly, by the fact that God numbers even the hairs of the head. The argument is, that if He takes care of birds of the least value, if He regards so small a thing as the hair of the head, and numbers it, He will certainly protect and provide for you. You need not…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-42Verses 16-42 Our Lord warned his disciples to prepare for persecution. They were to avoid all things which gave advantage to their enemies, all meddling with worldly or political concerns, all appearance of evil or selfishness, and all underhand measures. Christ foretold troubles, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise, but that they might confirm their faith. He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom. Thus Christ has dealt fairly…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 29-31God cares for every sparrow. So, the disciples of Jesus, who are more valuable, should not fear. God will take care of them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3131. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows--Was ever language of such simplicity felt to carry such weight as this does? But here lies much of the charm and power of our Lord's teaching.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 10:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 10
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
New Living Translation — © 1996, 2004, 2015 Tyndale House Foundation
Commentaries